Jackson Heights Life

Contessa isnt Gringo like using the "N" or "S" word??? I didn't appreciate that comment at all.

So another Indian or Colombian restaurant would also not be welcome, correct?

Actually we could use another nice Indian restaurant but I think we have plenty of Colombian.  As I mentioned in my earlier post it would be nice to have a bit of variety such as a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/French/Italian and even a great diner you get the picture, right?

I think we already have plenty of threads of the "I wish Jackson Heights had ________ (fill in the blank)" variety.  

I'm not in JH at the moment but I am really looking forward to trying out El Coyote when I get back and would love to hear more reports back from people who have been there.

The menu looks similar, but not identical.  I had cochinita pibil, which was delicious and does not seem to be on the Connecticut menu.  Also, while the Jackson Heights location is kid-friendly, for some reason it does not offer a childrens menu.  Hopefully they'll change that soon.

I went today for lunch.  I agree, great service, great food.   Lunch for two including a complimentary cream of mushroom soup and a fabulous chips and dips was only $18.  I had the enchiladas (chicken & beef) with a salad and friend had Coyote's Fajitas (steak) both outstanding.  Incredible atmosphere and pleasantly air conditioned.  I plan to return often.  This is an incredible additon to the neighborhood. 

I ate there on Friday, with a friend and my 2 1/2 year old.  Everyone LOVED it!  I had the mole poblano, which was exceptional.  My friend had a salmon preparation, which she said was one of the best pieces of salmon she has ever eaten.  My daughter was pampered, and had rice and beans and chicken fingers and french fries.  She loved mole when she was 13 months old, and hadn't had it since then.  I admit I was saddened when she turned up her nose at it.  But I loved it, and she ate well and had a great time.  We also had the ridiculously decadent cherry/watermelon margaritas.  I don't think I've had a margarita in 5 years, and it was really fun.

I'd like to speak to some of the earlier threads.  Do we need ANOTHER Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood?  Well, my feeling is that this place meets a really different set of needs than the taco stands and Coatzingo.  If you want to eat great Mexican food standing on the corner, or listening to the soccer game, you can do that.  If you want to be pampered in a really beautiful environment with first rate service, and eat great Mexican food, go to El Coyote.  Is it targeted to gringos?  Well, it is targeted to people with a certain amount of disposible income that they chose to spend on fine dining.  As a gringa who lived in Mexico City for three years, (and yeah, I have no problem with the term "gringo"), I find that it reminds me of the upscale restaurants located in affluent Mexico City neighborhoods such as Polanco and San Angel.  And yeah, the more touristy Zona Rosa. 

To make a similar argument, do we need Uncle Peter's and Armondo's when we have Gianni's?  Yeah, we do.  Gianni's is great when I'm coming home with a bag of stuff from the Rite Aid and I'm exhausted and have no desire to cook and I decide I want to sit down and have a great dish of pasta with the TV news in the background, while I catch up on neighborhood gossip.  When I want to unwind and eat an exceptional meal, with exceptional service, in a pampering environment, I go and have a great dish of pasta at Uncle Peter's. 

I am delighted to welcome El Coyote to the neighborhood.  I will eat there frequently.  And hopefully, my toddler/soon to be preschooler will start enjoying the mole again.  She also loved pepian sauce as a baby, and I hope to get her enjoying it again as well. 

Yes.